Author stands by her story of deep discounts
By Clint Engel -- Furniture Today, March 10, 2002
HIGH POINT — Kimberly Causey is sticking to her story about the huge discounts available at furniture factory outlets and North Carolina discounters.
"I haven't misrepresented anything to anyone," she said last week in response to industry complaints about a "Today" show segment in which she told consumers how to shop for better deals than they can usually get from their local furniture stores.
Causey said that "Today" producers "did in fact go to (North Carolina) with me to make the background footage and saw the prices in person."
She said a producer who had paid full retail at a New York store "was quite shocked to find a showroom sample of the very same sofa and chair in perfect condition" at a Bernhardt factory outlet for 75% less.
Some industry sources said Causey misrepresented factory outlets by saying they sold "first quality" goods instead of showroom samples, damaged or discontinued goods.
"Anyone who actually visits the factory outlets in North Carolina, as the NBC producers did last week, will find a very wide selection of first quality furniture that is also currently carried by furniture retailers nationwide," Causey said.
As proof, she said a Thomasville Collector's Cherry armoire she bought from an outlet two years ago "is still being sold by local retailers in my area today for more than twice the amount I paid, even after considering my travel and freight costs."
Some complained that the discounts Causey quoted were inaccurate because they were off of list price instead of actual retail.
"The discounts I quote are off of the normal retail quoted by the manufacturers," she said, adding that such prices "are routinely charge by stores."
"Some retailers do run sales from time to time. These sales never come close to the discounts available on new furniture over the phone from (North Carolina), and they certainly don't match the 60%-75% discounts available on furniture in new condition if you shop in person at the factory outlets," she said.
Asked whether a consumer should buy locally to get better service during and after the sale, Causey said, " 'Service after the sale' from retailers is a joke." She said the industry has a sorry record in that area.
She said her family had owned House of Causey, a manufacturer and designer of pillows and chair cushions, which showed in High Point, Dallas and Atlanta.
"I do not claim to have been in the furniture manufacturing business. However, furniture stores were our main customers, and I have certainly had ample opportunity to observe them from behind the scenes," she said.
As for industry analyst Jerry Epperson's comment about Causey misleading consumers to sell a book, Causey said she never misled anyone and said that she is working for the consumers, while Epperson is working for furniture retailers
"Today" spokesperson Allison Gollust said the program "feels 100% confident in our reporting and has no doubt about the work of our producers and expert guests in this series."
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